Statins are one of the most highly prescribed and commercially successful drugs in modern society, due to their ability to decrease LDL-cholesterol and lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Learn more about the history, mechanism, and side effects of statins in this episode of Medicurio. Other lipoprotein particles: You may have heard of LDL cholesterol as “bad” cholesterol because it clogs up the blood vessels with plaque. Its counterpart, HDL or “good” cholesterol does the opposite – HDL particles move throughout the bloodstream and pick up any cholesterol it finds and brings it back to the liver. Often times, plaque formation is dependent on both how much LDL and how little HDL there is in the blood. Dr. Endo’s story on his discovery of compactin: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3108295/ CVD Risk Calculator by the American College of Cardiology: http://tools.acc.org/ASCVD-Risk-Estimator-Plus/ References: Hajar R. Statins: Past and Present. Heart Views : The Official Journal of the Gulf Heart Association. 2011;12(3):121-127. Thompson, P. D., Clarkson, P., Karas, R. H. (2003). Statin-associated myopathy. Journal of American Medical Association, 289(13): 1681-1690. Golomb, B. A., & Evans, M. A. (2008). Statin Adverse Effects: A Review of the Literature and Evidence for a Mitochondrial Mechanism. American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs : Drugs, Devices, and Other Interventions, 8(6), 373–418.